Give back the trust that someone has given to you to keep...

Give back the trust that someone has given to you to keep whether he be a good person or an open sinner, because certainly the Messenger of Allah (blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) used to command the return of the trust even if it be (something as small as) a thread and needle.”[^2] Imam Ja’far b.

Muhammad as-Sadiq (as) also said: إِنَّا لَنُحِبُّ مَنْ كَانَ عَاقِلاً فَهْماً فَقِيهاً حَلِيماً مُدَارِياً صَبُوراً صَدُوقاً وَفِـيًّا إِنَّ اللٌّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ خَصَّ الأَنْـبِيَآءَ بِمَكَارِمِ الأَخْلاَقِ فَمَنْ كَانَتْ فِيهِ فَلْيَحْمَدِ اللٌّهَ عَلى ذٌلِكَ وَ مَنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ فِيهِ فَلْيَتَضَرَّعْ إِلـى اللٌّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَلْيَسْأَلْهُ إِيَّاهَا.

قَالَ قُلْتُ: جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ وَ مَا هُنَّ؟ قَالَ : هُنَّ الْوَرَعُ وَ الْقَنَاعَةُ وَ الصَّبْرُ وَ الشُّكْرُ وَ الْحِلْمُ وَ الْحَـيَآءُ وَ السَّخَاءُ وَ الشَّجَاعَةُ وَ الْغِيْرَةُ وَ الْبِرُّ وَ صِدْقُ الْحَدِيثِ وَ أَدَاءُ الأَمَانَةِ “Surely we love that person who is intelligent, has understanding; deep knowledge of the religion, forbearing, compassionate, patient truthful and trustworthy.

Surely Allah, the Glorious and Noble, graced the messengers with the noblest of ethics so whoever has these traits in himself should praise Allah for this and whoever does not possess them should beseech Allah, the Glorious and Noble, and plead for them from him.” The companion continued: “I said to the Imam, may I be sacrificed for you, what are they?” The Imam replied: “They are to keep away (from sin), to be satisfied (with what one has), patience, thankfulness, forbearance, chastity, benevolence, courage, dignity, righteousness, truthfulness in one’s speech and returning the entrusted.”[^3] [^1]: Kamal ad-Din wa Tamam an-Ni’mah, vol.

2, pg. 330 [^2]: al-Kafi, vol. 2, pg. 636, no. 5; Wasa`il ash-Shi’a, vol. 12, pg. 6, sec. 1, no. 10496 [^3]: al-Kafi, vol. 2, pg. 56, sec. on Makarimul Akhlaq, no. 3 Previous…

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